St Matthew passion

"Nelson gets to the core of the work with his avuncular didacticism and genial control; and what characterful singing emerges ... The last word goes to the fine Schola Cantorum of Oxford ... who deliver ... true characterisation, tenderness, ardour and an attentiveness to detail which fuels Nelson's rounded and mature vision of the St Matthew".

"There's a blazing sincerity about this performance that draws in the listener ... Gura is a very experienced Bach singers and he's a moving Evangelist who tells the story with real emotional power ... The Schola Cantorum of Oxford sings extremely responsively ... Nelson brings a rather Romantic spirit to the work, but this never does it any violence".

"Editor's choice: In this choreographed Passion there are two discrete but overlapping layers of action ... Bach's elaborated setting of St Matthew is peculiarly suited to such an approach ... The vocal soloists are all excellent, fairly extrovert whether in a mode of declamation or confession; Benno Schachtner's alto and Benedikt Kristjánsson's Evangelist are most vividly drawn and sung ... The gestures are unpretentious ... Powerful musical values underpin the enterprise".